Zuzana Ruzickova

[tones]

A sad loss - but, given what she endured, we were lucky to have her for so long.

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41420149

A favourite recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bDZRLbmNGjk

 

[George J]

Thanks for your post. I did read the BBC report. Amazing, brave and so strong.

Partita Number One in B Flat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS7It4UREyA

I have to confess that I had never heard of her, but there is a new re-issue on Warner of her Erato complete Bach Harpsichord recordings will come to me next month - only following last month's purchase of the Warner release of Walcha’s similar achievement from a few years earlier of an “almost" complete cycle. Both players avoid that strange tendency to over-hesitate on cadences!

This is a blight I find on so many more modern harpsichord performances of the music, and it undermines the “strength” in the music, by trying to sugar the pill for some misguided reason. But both know how to swing the music gently and lift rhythms with utter delight!!!!!

ATB from George